441 results about "Inventory system" patented technology

System and method for monitoring inventory. Inventory items are positioned between a camera and a surface having an optically identifiable and distinct characteristic. The camera obtains an image of the inventory items present, any exposed portion of the surface, or both. The amount of the exposed surface is used to determine an amount of the inventory items that are present or missing. Furthermore, the optically identifiable characteristic may be a uniform characteristic, such as color or texture, or a set of discrete elements, such as stickers, barcodes, structural features of the shelf, a pattern of lines or shapes, or combinations thereof. Optionally, the optically identifiable characteristic is unique to the location of the shelf associated with the inventory items. Inventory or non-inventory items incorrectly positioned over the exposed surface may be excluded from the amount of the expected inventory item being determined if the item does not match the visual attributes of the expected inventory item. The camera may be fixed or movable and preferably provides digital images to a computer system having a computer readable medium with program products for analyzing the image and providing inventory reports.

A system for transporting inventory includes an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder includes a frame capable of storing inventory items and a docking plate capable of receiving a docking head from underneath. The mobile drive unit, includes a docking head capable of coupling to the docking plate and a drive module capable of propelling the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is further capable to move the inventory holder when the docking head is coupled to the inventory holder.

The present invention relates to inventory management solutions, and in particular, to methods and systems for inventorying items and property over wireless and data networks, using digital imaging, positioning, RFID, and data terminals. The user experience in performing inventory management is simplified and enhanced over existing methods.

A method for retrieving inventory items within an inventory system includes receiving a retrieval request that identifies an inventory item and selecting, from a plurality of inventory stations, an inventory station to fulfill an order associated with the retrieval request. The method also includes selecting an inventory holder from a plurality of inventory holders that store the inventory item and selecting, from a plurality of mobile drive units, a mobile drive unit to move the selected inventory holder to the selected inventory station.

A method for storing inventory items in an inventory system includes receiving a replenish request identifying an inventory item to be stored in an inventory system and determining a classification of the inventory item to be stored. The method also includes selecting an inventory holder from a plurality of inventory holders based, at least in part, on the classification of the inventory item to be stored and a classification of one or more other inventory items currently stored in the selected inventory holder. Additionally, the method includes transmitting information identifying the selected inventory holder to a mobile drive unit.

This invention relates to an interactive medication cassette with a machine readable and writable information strip that contains information corresponding to the medication in the cassette. The interactive medication cassette holds the medication and couples the corresponding information to the medication. The cassette is designed for use in a medication distribution and inventory system that includes at least one medication dispensing machine having a sensor for reading the information in the strip and updating or altering this information when medication is added to or removed from the cassette. The cassette travels with the medication during the distribution of the medication to a patient, and its information is reported to one or more memory devices or hospital or pharmacy data base during this process. The cassette is filled by a pharmacy dispensing machine holding a bulk container filled with a particular type of medication and a singulator for counting the quantity of medication added to the cassette. The pharmacy dispensing machine alters the information strip to include medication and quantity information corresponding to the dispensed medication. The cassette is closed and locked to prevent unauthorized access during transport to a hospital floor workstation. A hospital floor dispensing machine incrementally dispense the medication from the cassette, and updates the information strip with additional information including the quantity of medication dispensed from the cassette. When the cassette is returned to the pharmacy and its unused contents is emptied into the bulk container, the information strip on the cassette automatically updates an information strip on the bulk container to indicate the number of doses of medication added to the bulk container. In this manner, a reliable medication distribution and inventory system is achieved while maintaining improved control over the access to the medication on the hospital floor.

System and method for monitoring inventory. Inventory items are positioned between a camera and a surface having an optically identifiable and distinct characteristic. The camera obtains an image of the inventory items present, any exposed portion of the surface, or both. The amount of the exposed surface is used to determine an amount of the inventory items that are present or missing. Furthermore, the optically identifiable characteristic may be a uniform characteristic, such as color or texture, or a set of discrete elements, such as stickers, barcodes, structural features of the shelf, a pattern of lines or shapes, or combinations thereof. Optionally, the optically identifiable characteristic is unique to the location of the shelf associated with the inventory items. Inventory or non-inventory items incorrectly positioned over the exposed surface may be excluded from the amount of the expected inventory item being determined if the item does not match the visual attributes of the expected inventory item. The camera may be fixed or movable and preferably provides digital images to a computer system having a computer readable medium with program products for analyzing the image and providing inventory reports.

A virus scanning system and method. A system is provide that includes: a full scanning system for performing a full scan of each file in a file system; a file inventory system for inventorying each file in the file system and generating a set of inventory records, wherein each inventory record includes a unique key associated with each file in the file system; an inventory compare system for comparing a current set of inventory records with an existing set of inventory records to identify files in the file system that were modified since the existing set of inventory records was generated; and a selective scanning system for selectively scanning only files in the file system that were identified as modified by the inventory compare system.

Systems and related methods are disclosed that provide an electronic commerce and communication system that includes real-time product inventory information to enable a customer-driven experience for reservation of products. An electronic commerce exchange is provided that permits customers to browse, search, and reserve products for in-store pickup across multiple merchants, each potentially with multiple retail locations. The exchange includes a real-time product inventory database that maintains real-time product inventory information for the retail locations of the merchants. The product inventory database includes ingest engines that permit an interface to different inventory transfer protocols so that product inventory information can be maintained across disparate inventory systems maintained by different merchants.

A computer-based system for taking the physical inventory of beverages dispensed in full and partially full containers so as to effectively control the theft and overpouring. The products to be inventoried, such as liquor bottles are identified by conventional barcodes that can be scanned by a scanner that is operably interconnected with a hand-held computer. The step of scanning the barcodes produces, on the touch-sensitive screen of the hand-held computer, product information concerning the product contained within the scanned bottle including a silhouette of the bottle. In accomplishing the inventory, the user indicates by touching on the silhouette of the bottle the fluid level within the bottle. This information is inputted in the computer data storage and is used to calculate the volume of beverage remaining in the bottle.

A method and device comprising a food inventory system that enables food inventory control as well as meal planning Food items are entered into a software controlled means for storing food inventory data and meal recipes. Meal planning is enabled whereby recipes are proposed based on inventory levels and / or food expiration or spoilage times, as well as nutrient and dietary information. Shopping lists are created that reflect inventory levels, recipe needs, and / or food expiration or spoilage dates.

Overhead antenna live inventory locating systems and methods are provided. The overhead antenna inventory / locating system can include a plurality of antennas mounted in an elevated support structure. The antennas can be coupled to RFID readers that interrogate electronic tags. The inventory system can analyze the information received from the detected electronic tags and produce inventory data and location information for the tags. The antennas can be patch antennas mounted to ceiling tiles such that they can be positioned in the ceiling of a facility. The antennas can be configured to provide broad coverage from a relatively low ceiling height. The low-cost antennas can be configured in such a way as to provide accurate location information for detected tags. The inventory system can be configured to provide near real-time inventory and location information.

A tele-inventory system for inventorying various kinds of commodities in a shop by an operator from a remote management apparatus installed remotely from the shop, includes, at shop, a camera for taking images of object commodities to be inventoried, a image-transmitter for transmitting the taken images of the object commodities to the remote management apparatus, and, at the remote management apparatus, an image-receiver for receiving the taken images of the object commodities from the image-transmitter and display for displaying the taken images of the object commodities, whereby the operator can make an inventory of the object commodities at the remote management apparatus with consulting the taken images of the object commodities which images have been displayed on the display. With this system, it is possible to inventory commodities sold and stocked in a department store or a convenience store from a remote place.